68 Firebird (Project: Firechicken)

[jro183]

Good luck and keep us updated.

[Bob's68]

So my starter is acting up it is not engaging like 3 out of 10 times it will engage and spin the engine but the other 7 it will either not grab and free spin or hit for a second and slip. Any Ideas? maybe from lack of use or starter is crapping out.

[Steve Firebird]

Looks like a good starting point for a great ride. You may need to clean up or replace the solenoid on the starter and or adjust / shim the starter, it maybe to close or too far away from the flywheel.
Good luck Steve

[Bob's68]

Here is the most rust on the car there are only a few holes in the trunk. Some rust under the right rear corner of the rear window, and some damage under the left tail light.

[Bob's68]

Small Update

New starter coming

should be up and running again this weekend

[Bob's68]

Update

Had eletrical problems power was not making it to the interior and the rest of the car.

The wire running from the junction block was cut.

New starter will be here Monday.

[MARK4956]

Nice project. I am doing a 1968 firebird convt. Lots of fun to work on.

[Bob's68]

Update

Got new starter, should be running Wensday, video of epic moment. First time it will run on its own since buying the car haha. Once we do this we will have over come one of the biggest problems of the car and then it will be time to see what we have.

[Bob's68]

cool man I have always had a soft spot for verts

[chunger]

Nice project. I noticed the classic Grant wheel. Seems like almost every car from the 80's had that exact steering wheel. I remember buying one of those for my first Mustang .... ah good times...

[Bob's68]

yep it had plastic mirrors and that big mirror on the inside that went from one side to the other product of the 80s lol

[chunger]

yep it had plastic mirrors and that big mirror on the inside that went from one side to the other product of the 80s lol

Ah yes, Wink mirrors. Funky looking with 6 or 7 small mirrors all mounted at an angle. They actually worked pretty good, if your car had decent visibility around the C pillars. Mine was mounted in my 67 Mustang fastback, which of course, has VERY large C pillars, thus rendering this mirror almost worthless over a stocker.

More 80's checks - Garter belt wrapped around the tach, which is held on by a hose clamp on the steering column? Yellow Acell wires? Big yellow coil? M/T valve covers? Headers painted white?

Good times, good times...

[6'9"Witha69]

That's not just 80's!!

[Munster]

I actually really liked my Wink mirror. And it was even in a old mazda rotary pickup with a chopped roof. Kinda big in there but I sure could see what was behind me. I like the concept.

[Bob's68]

my biggest problem with the mirrow is how tall i am I sit so high up that the mirrow was truthfully to low. And I really didnt care for it i still have it just sitting on my bench.

[Tuske427]

welcome, and that's awesome that you too are building a first gen bird. What are your plans for the car?

[Bob's68]

Thank you

I am still in planning stages right now its all about money we know what we want but how are we going to achieve it haha.

[Bob's68]

Ok so I have another problem No spark

I possible believe from looking at my wire diagrams that we are missing a wire from the starter battery cable running to the starter another wire running off. it cranks but apon pulling a plug and cracking no spark. missing the yellow wire, look at the diagram. could this be the root of the problem?

[rohrt]

The purple ("S"tart) wire will send 12v to the solinoid and it acts like a relay to send that 12v back out the the yellow wire ("R"un wire). The pink resistive wire will have around 9volts to the coil all the time so it doesn't cook it. When cranking the Yellow will put a full battery voltage to the coil to help increase the spark. Your voltage will drop while cranking so have a full 12 to the coil helps bost the spark.

Make sure you are in park and the wires are connected to the shifter for the neuteral safety switch.

If this car was converted to an HEI the yellow wire is not really needed but from the pictures that doesn't seem to be the case. If its still using a points setup then you should replace the yellow wire.

I would start first by seeing if you have voltage at the coil. If you do then go to the coil. You should be able to ohm out the coil and check for an open connection. If that looks good then go to the points. You can manualy close the points and check for a spark or pull a plug and keep it grounded, turn over the starter and see if you get a spark.

Its pretty cheap to just replace the coil, condensor and points and start new. just make sure you have power to the coil. Rent a dwell meter and get your dwell adjusted to 30deg.

[Bob's68]

IT IS RUNNING!!! the carb is still acting up a bit bit now fires an starts coil was bad